The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-06-20
Pipss Bsptis. Oh arch.


discouTs
"Is the young man Abealom safe ?"
III Samuel xviii, 80. Such was the
language Of David 30 the messenger
who esme 10 bear the tidings OF David,
whose army was engaged in battle
with the forces Of Alb alom, his son,
who had dared 10 usurp the throne OF
his hJheT. But with the message OF
victory wss the intelligence that Absa-
lnm had been sam by Joab, one of
DAvid's chief commanders, the cap
tain oil David's hosts. This is the only
instance where line very instrument
and means which brought success to
the isther brought rain, disaster and
death 10 the sop.
The question here asked by the bard
and King of Israel Ia one which every
parent, guardian and citizen may well
ssk a. 10 the Young men OF our own
age, city and country-whst about the
fs'y Of our young men today2 To
be Indifferent 10 this question is to
sleep over the mos, vital interests of
our commonwealth, What is and shall
DO the mental, moral ard religious
strength OF those upon whoee shout
ders are 10 rest the burden and TeBpon-
aibility Of government ere many years
Bhall be folded upH The Importance
Of the suettsn and the magnitude Of
the forces ayrayed for their destruc.
ten will appear upon moments re-
Election. LIST as lend ourselves TO the
study for time, this evening", of some
of these hostile elements hicn threat.
en- the safety OF our young men.
l. The bssis upOn which 30 called
modern society is constructed ia calcu.
lated TO impair the modern healthful-
mesa and even the modern life OF our
young men. The requirements are
not one either OF intelleet or morals;
neither culture nor integrity has
anything TO do with the admission Of
our young men into the social circle OF
our times. The requirements are not
those Of character. The young mau
may have no regard for purity, none
for the ssnclity Of home and fl -esde,
he may be dripping with the foulness
OF corruption, bis every thought may
be sedue ion, his every act ain aBd
. crime, his every hope the feeding Of
the fires Of lust and shame, and yet, II
no has q sort Of iehned elegance In
spending either HIS own or some 9TH
er's means, he Ia the pet Of society.
He leads the circle. Money in the
social circles covers all crimes, atones
l 7 all sins. Boeh an order Of things
forces thoee Of our young men who are
fond oil society to tpena al they make
and more In III epipg up" ss they
say, with the requirements OF good 80
ciely. They have NO time nor means
for moral nor intellectual improve
mont Another cl@s of our
young men are debsrred en-.
irely because their means are not
equal to the demands OF society. Tn y
either grow TO be unsocial, cyniCs, OF
10 seek epj yments In other dire ctions,
where morals ere put 10 dead vantage
Society ought TO know that it is one I
the Chi, educators Of our young peo
pie. These people have no right to
construct their social flbric upon any
basis or plain VIII Oh will pat morals to
nsught and worship ut tfes1rine q
lnsmmon. Such state Of aft airs pu g
our young men in a circle here
money Ia the sine qua non-sn indis-
penBiblo prerequislte--and 30 q circle
which hinders marriage hinders pui-
ty, domestic happiness. They fall,
they No others down. God break
mp our modern society and out of lie
irsgments build something more Ia
accordance with the eternal principles
oil righteousr esJ and truth
Another perilous indication Ia the
tendency Of our youug men eeps cial-
~ to leave their C0uatry homes and
their agricultural interests and en-
ploy ment to come to the towns a d
cities where there ia no demand FIR
their labor We are too likely to pass
over his tendency 70 II II were an un.
important affair. Bat let ua study
a moment here. In 1890
one-thjrlieth OF our population lived
In towns and ci les Of over 5000; In
! 800, ten years later, there were one
tS enty. A. Of our PEG ols 10 the towns
and cities; in 1890, one.tweDtieth; in
1880, one.fixteeDth; In 1s40, one-
tive FIJI Ia 1850 one.eigh h; IN $780,
one-biIth; In 1870, one.ffth; In 1881,
nearly one-iouTih, La the last 100
years the population OF this country
has increased tuelvs fold, that of thu
cities eighty.six fold. This increase
Ia very largely made mp OF Young
men. They are often upskilled in the
lAbor peculiar 10 the city industries;
they scarcely make living for them.
selv alone. Tn y very seldom succeed |
In CONNIE rcial life. zone In one hun
dred" say statistics, succeed. Other
lines OF employment can afford only
competency 10 many, wealth to very |
lew, and poverty, failure, ruin TO
many. They Hre al ft for domestic
life. They are too poor to take care OF
\ family II they had one. Gan our
young men Of This unTy be safe in
The face OF such odds against them
Oh II l could catch the ears Of those
boys back in the Fnral districts OF this
country / would tell them in tones OF
RE q dsnip and love, for their interest
Ind fJr the interest OF this great Coun-
ny 10 stay on your FIRMS, II l could
l6b tuO ohIb VI uuuuTbub Vi yuuUB m6U
n our citV | would beg them to fail
INTO solid lire and march to the coun.
~ districts Of this broad Lar and
here to WOO the g d less OF Wealth
iom the secret shrlnes whit or she
1as fed from the once prosparou.
ZONES Of their fathers. There is
where robust manhood is developed.
There is where the wealth OF the land
les hid. There is the safety OF the
Iou a manhood OF this oJunlry.
8 Another very alsFhing foe to our
1ouDg men, an enemy 30 their high
lst H. terest, 10 the literature which is
10 eagerly dsvonTed bSthem. All can
100 the IL tleunce Of the dAily prets All
know its power as an o. ucatOr Very
Many OF uur young men read little
,lse than the new Ipaper. They are
Up early to getit Toey cit up late tn
:, sd IT, Yery much of 1t is utterly
INIT to bs read any where this side of
Iheol, and then only by the srchfiend
II night. Oar papersdo not seem to
ga ia that hey have no moral right
% run upon tue low p anet # money
making al the expense of the morals
If the people. The paper is to creale
moral sentiment, not 10 pour |
mt moral missma Which ran